I have been up the coast on a short vacation, with plans for a whole other "X" for today, but when I was birding out on the Guadalupe Dunes out of Santa Maria, I saw this sign for the endangered Snowy Plover. This tiny bird breeds on the beach just over the dunes, and is very protected by rangers and beachgoers. Since we are being pretty relaxed regarding the rules for X, I couldn't resist the sign for today's X challenge.
For the final week of the alphabet challenge, Z is for Zinfandel. I first noticed this display of wine bottles at Costco, and whipped out my cell phone for a quick shot. It wasn't until later, when I had the image on my computer that I noticed the line, "The Seven Deadly Zins" and decided this was my Z week entry for sure. In larger sizes, I saw that the label also displays the deadly "sins" of vanity, greed, sloth, lust, etc. behind the haloed Zs. It seems a fitting ending to this fun challenge. 11/25/18 Judith Sparhawk
When photographing many corners and nooks at the Hsi Lai Temple, for the most part everything was beautiful, yet solemn and with a very sacred feel to it. And then I found a side garden with several of these darling childlike stone sculptures, each different, and yet all with a happy and joyful look to them. This was my favorite. This is the last of the series I'm posting from this Buddhist Temple and Monastery. 12/4/20 My website: www.sparhawkphotography.com
